Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s livestock transformation agenda has recorded a significant breakthrough, as the Gombe Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project announces the first successful calving from its ongoing Artificial Insemination (AI) Programme.

The milestone marks a new phase in Gombe’s ambition to modernise its livestock industry, enhance dairy production, and promote high-yield, climate-resilient cattle breeds across the state.

Under the AI programme, Gombe L-PRES imported high-quality exotic semen from Brazil and inseminated local breeds to improve milk output, strengthen genetic resilience, and boost overall productivity and profitability within the livestock value chain.

The AI exercise, described as one of the flagship components of Gombe L-PRES, lays the foundation for large-scale milk production. While local breeds typically yield 2–3 litres of milk daily, the new crossbreeds are expected to produce between 20–40 litres per day.

Targeting more than 2,000 cows statewide, the initiative is already showing promising outcomes. The first batch has begun calving, with several more animals expected to follow in the coming weeks.

This achievement comes on the heels of commendations from the World Bank and the Federal Government, after Gombe L-PRES recorded an unprecedented 79.1% conception rate, the highest ever recorded in Nigeria’s livestock AI programmes.

The first calf was delivered at Sugar Candy Farms in Bozon Shilwa, within the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve in Dukku LGA. Veterinary and animal husbandry officers confirmed that the calf is healthy, has normal weight, and is in excellent physical condition.

Reacting to the development, the State Project Coordinator of Gombe L-PRES, Professor Usman Bello Abubakar, expressed delight and attributed the success to the unflinching support of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the World Bank, and the National Coordination Office of L-PRES.

“Gombe is the only state pioneering this Artificial Insemination exercise at this scale, and we are already demonstrating exceptional results,” he said.

“With this milestone, Gombe State has truly begun its journey toward full livestock transformation. We will continue working until our breeds match global standards, supporting food security and improving the livelihoods of our farmers sustainably.”

Under the Artificial Insemination programme, 20% of the exercise was carried out in integrated farms, while 80% was allocated to pastoralists. The pastoralist component was implemented through the 55 newly established dairy cooperatives created under the Gombe L-PRES Project.

The project also plans to establish milk collection centres across the state, with a long-term objective of setting up a full-fledged milk processing factory in the state capital.

This initiative has already reached an advanced stage. As part of the preparatory process, the Gombe State Government, through the L-PRES Project, undertook a technical tour of L & Z Farms in Kano and is currently in discussions with the company on a potential partnership to establish a milk processing facility in Gombe.

With the successful calving, Gombe’s march toward a resilient, productive, and commercially viable livestock sector has gained even greater momentum, positioning the state at the forefront of livestock modernization in Nigeria.